Last Saturday, on December 6th, 2014, Bandung got so many music gigs for you to choose and one memorable event was held at Lapangan Parkir Selatan, Universitas Padjadjaran, Dipati Ukur. The gate was opened at 5pm and you welcomed by some friendly committee. It was pouring rain since midday, the sky was dark, and felt so cold. Yes, bad weather made it started a little bit late but it didn’t stop the crowd to slowly increase as the event continued. PASIFIC 2 was held by students from Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UNPAD as the first event of a series they have been doing. Next year they manage to run second event in February and main event in March.
Let’s go back and review this wondrous event before the committees surprise us with another two upcoming big events. A music event with full of youngster and eminent musicians is a strategic moment to spread the words about caring our nature more and paying attention to the environment. Students of FEB tried to prove their concern and good willing with carrying on “The Soul of Nature” as a big theme for this event and provided a booth for those who want to donate plant seeds. They aimed to inspire as many visitors as possible to care the nature and cleanness of beautiful Bandung. Therefore, duo amusing MC, Danto and Faisal, kept on reminding the audience to throw their trash into many available trash bag and better not smoking. After that, they had a go-green-community on stage to widely share about nature.
It is a real statement to point out PASIFIC 2 as a unique among other gigs. Not only they served several impressive artists, but also they put some cultures into the program. Jaipong, a traditional dance from West Java epically opened that night and later on some bands were improvised with touch of ethnic while their on stage. You might be starving when you stood for hours watching you favorite band. Then this is second point of PASIFIC’s uniqueness where they served you with various culinary booths to fulfill your hunger in strategic area. Unlike other music festival where the food price can make you think twice to eat on spot, PASIFIC made it so affordable for you and not to mention the tastes are appetizing.
Couple of weeks ago, PASIFIC held an audition for opening band and we got two newly remarkable which came from UNPAD, they were SSP and Blue Jays. Let’s take a look one by one. SSP stands for Suka Suka Project. The idea for this name came from their freedom in playing music. They don’t feel like stick into one particular genre and like to explore their skills, to improvise, and to experience as many genres as possible. Although SSP was formed recently, in February this year, they already participated and experienced many stages, included some of Jazzuality’s events. For PASIFIC, they made it full team along with horn section. The personnel are Jo (vocal), Ezra (keyboard), Fahmi (drum), Hiro (guitar), Rayan (bass) and the brass section consists of Widi (saxophone), Rifky (trumpet) and Djani (trombone). Too bad Ezra couldn’t participate with the team that night, so they had Arif and Diki from Salamander Big Band to join them. They hit the stage with famous bouncy song “Rather Be” belongs to Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne. Continued with a familiar and absolutely a very cool single written by Hiro, “Terlambat”, and then brought the cheerful mood again with Stevie Wonder’ hits, “Superstitious”.
Carrying forward to second band, another striking band from UNPAD, Blue Jays. Yes, they are young, only recently formed; still have fun playing around many genres, and not labeling themselves with one kind of music. However, they rocked the stage with several famous tunes and closed it attractively with Daft Punk “Something about us”. Good job kiddos!
Night greeted, more people came, and more bands were on stage. Tigapagi consists of bunch of men who jammed together since high school and when they were on college, they had maximum musical productivity at 3am. This is where it all begins. When they were up on stage and played the melody in defined style, you could felt the atmosphere was changed softly and warmed up. Rain seemed so beautiful when it was accompanied with mellow and calm tunes from this indie pop acoustic folk band with Sundanese taste. Eko Sakti Oktavianto (Guitar/Bass), Prima Dian Febrianto (Guitar), and Sigit Agung Pramudita (Guitar/Voice/Humming) who comes from Bandung are the people behind it. Together they admirably met the crowd with “Tangan Hampa Kaki Telanjang” ,”Erika”, and several more songs. You start to love them performances? Go find their freshly debut album titled ‘Roekmana’s Repertoire’ and sense the sentimental folk tunes.
Senandung Taman who came after safely brought us back to cheery ambience with its female vocalist who also once a part of UNPAD and she said it was a proudly moment to perform in her own alma mater for the first time. Next month in 2015 is going to be first anniversary for this group, who love to perform at some of Bandung’s parks, and all they wish for is the release of their debut album. This is why they do not import their own songs into soundcloud and prefer to do it live. They playfully completed the stage act with “Senja Terbenam di Bibirmu”, “Bintang Malam”, and one mythical hits from limited progressive jazz rock album of a legendary musical group, Guruh Gypsy. Elmo Rinaldy (guitar), Dhea Febrina (lead vocal), and Hariz Lasa (guitar/vocal) absolutely stunned us with their pop acoustic play.
Next one was the one and only Daniel Sahuleka who finally engaged his loyal fans. He is known publicly since 70’s and how wonderful it is to see many youngster that night still know and remember his songs, and also there were some older audiences we could see enjoying his performance, perhaps remembering the good old days. No wonder both “You Make My World So Colorful” and “Don’t Sleep Away the Night” are special enchantments for people feeling romantic and sentimental while singing along. Those singles have its own charm that could attract people and how obvious love filled the air with soft voice from Daniel.
His song list for PASIFIC 2 were: “If I Didn’t”, “Hey It’s Good to See You Back Again”, “The Sunflight”, “The Rain”, “I Adore You”, a romantic hits “You Make My World So Colorful”, a medley between “Must You Go Away” and wonderful “Don’t Sleep Away The Night”. Daniel gave a wonderful surprise by also singing his evergreen minus one to bring the memory back completely. Loud cheer and applause were given to him throughout his show.
There was special occasion happened on stage. Alice, Daniel’s beloved wife, together with the committee had prepared special surprise for him because that night was his 64th birthday. Daniel was caught by surprise and thanked everyone. “This is the most beautiful birthday I’ve ever had”, he said happily. Was it the end? No, because the audience still demanded more. He fulfilled the request by singing “Anak Kecil” as an encore.
During the interview session shortly after his performance, Daniel told us that he’s ready with a new album which is made in loving memory of his father, Simon Pieter Sahuleka. Titled “Dad’s Request”, Daniel features songs that his dad favoured the most. The songs that Daniel listened to when he grew up, the songs that means the world to him. Thanks to Daniel who gave us the previlege to listen to those songs before the album even released, we know how beautiful this album is. Those are famous songs that have been sung by so many artists throughout eras, but Daniel managed to let his heart and soul poured into it, making those songs as if his own. And yes, this album will let you feel his deepest jazz side and has the power to be a legendary album. Prepare to get the album soon at the stores near you.
The last two grand bands were ready to enormously close this gig. Pandai Besi is a band within band. As Cholil from Efek Rumah Kaca is one of personnel, yes we can see the resemblance among them as they also brought up some ERK’s songs from their albums on stage. However, the distinguished arrangement and massive varieties of style becomes an incomparably aspect. Although Cholil and Irma are still not on board because they have something else to do, Pandai Besi awesomely entertained the crowd that night and added little surprise where Sigit from Tigapagi joined them on stage. The personnel are Monica Hapsari, Nastasha Abigail, and Irma Hidayana on vocals, Cholil Mahmud on vocals and guitar, Akbar Bagus Sudibyo on drums and vocals, Poppie Airil bass and vocals, Andi Hans Sabarudin on guitar, Muhammad Asranur on keyboards, and last, Agustinus Panji Mardika on trumpet. Together they beautifully sang melancholic “Desember” and made the crowd sang along “aku selalu suka sehabis hujan di bulan Desember…” What other lyrics could possibly fit the atmosphere, right? No, Pandai Besi is not Efek Rumah Kaca. Indeed, they independently stand on their feet and ready to spread their wings wider in Indonesia music industry.
The time already passed midnight but the crowd loyally waited for one more striking band who recently performed in another UNPAD’s gig at Jatinangor. Float gave what we waited for. They managed to play mostly all of their hits though the time was running out. “3 Hari tuk Slamanya”, “Sementara”, “Stupido Ritmo”, “Surrender”, “Tiap Senja”, and “Pulang” successfully made the audiences non stop sang along and chanted their name. Hotma Roni Simamora (vocals/guitar), Windra Benyamin (guitar), Raymond Agus Saputra (bass/backvox), David Qlintang (guitar), and Arman ‘Jenglot’ Chaniago (percussion) together surprised the people with their special arrangement where there was a touch of gendang and sounded ethnic. In addition, pay attention to their special album in order to celebrate their tenth anniversary.
At last, it is proved, rainy season in December do not stop the youngster to come to PASIFIC 2, not to mention some of older audiences also participated perhaps to see Daniel Sahuleka performance or just trying to catch up with latest Indonesian musicians. Indeed, it was a remarkable night in Bandung where once again people were spoiled by some great music performances. Not to mention that Daniel Sahuleka praised their lighting set. Besides, the sound was clear, the stage set was good, and the hallway of culinary night was properly arranged. Surely they prepared the best for the visitors. This doesn’t stop here fellas. Remember that committee from FEB UNPAD still get you another two grand gigs to enjoy. Kindly mark you calendar in February and March 2015 and wait what else magic they prepare to surprise us. See ya!
See more pictures:
Reporter: Mellysa Anastasya
Photographer: Titus Firmanto